Archive
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Tributes may ease pain of loss
Nothing will dim the pain this morning still being felt by Sally Thorneloe or her daughters Hannah and Sophie, but we hope yesterday’s marks of respect in Oxford and Wiltshire will offer a degree of comfort in the future. More than 100 people were outside
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CRICKET: Oxon hopes hit by bad weather
A first Minor Counties Championship win of the season looks a remote prospect for Oxfordshire after bad weather intervened in their Western Division clash with Wales at Banbury. Only 21 overs of play were possible at White Post Road on Monday during
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DARTS: College are the comeback kings
Section 3 leaders College Oak B made it four wins from six games with a superb 5-4 comeback victory over Black Horse A. Wins from Kim Percival and Ian Walton saw the visitors take a 2-0 lead. College Oak levelled through Mike Woodbridge (180) and Shane
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Where are the lefties now?
LEFT-wing letter writers are few and far between these days. I wonder why? Labour’s symbiotic pals appear sunk almost without trace. The moderate Left’s correspondence prior to the elections – people owing their modicum of success entirely to Labour
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Cyclists are not exempt from road rules
HAVING read the Oxford Mail of Wednesday, July 1, the article about Biking in the City, I would suggest your columnist James Styring, chairman of cycling pressure group Cyclox, doesn’t know what he’s talking about. As a pedestrian and cyclist I respect
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Hard times coping with a heatwave
Hot, hot, hot...how can I describe the heat last week? Even if you were glued to the tennis and not out and about, you must still have known about it. It’s felt that bad at times that I’ve been tempted to have fry-ups for tea every day, using the front
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Appalling dog attack
I was appalled when I read the article about the dog attack and the owner’s response to it. It seems more and more that these aggressive dogs are being owned by equally aggressive owners. It is obvious that the owner is one of life’s social under-achievers
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Fowl play is all the rage
WHETHER it’s down to celebrity foodie Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and TV chef Jamie Oliver, or the recent economic down-turn, chickens are getting big. Not increasing in size – just popularity. The chicken bug is catching. More and more people are investing
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Hospital scoops award
The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, Oxford, has scooped a national award for its teamwork. The Human Resources Team from the hospital in Headington scooped the ‘HR Team of the Year’ award at a ceremony in London. The award was handed out
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Distribution defence centre chief cleared
THE chief of Bicester Defence Storage and Distribution Centre is back at work after being cleared following an investigation into “financial propriety”. Neil Firth was one of a number of staff who were suspended on full pay in April pending an investigation
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Thames Water is the best, says inspectorate
Tap water provided by Thames Water is the best in its class, according to the Government's official quality control watchdog. The Drinking Water Inspectorate, announcing its annual water quality report, said that in 2008, Thames Water’s tap water was
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Swine flu: Brookes says 10 infected
TEN students staying at Oxford Brookes University are believed to have contracted swine flu, it emerged tonight. Brookes confirmed that all 10 students believed to have contracted the H1N1 strain of the flu virus were summer students from privately-run
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Find yourself a swine flu friend, says PCT
HEALTH chiefs were tonight urging people to choose a ‘flu-friend’ in a bid to limit the spread of swine flu across the county. The number of cases in Oxfordshire stands at 52 and the county’s primary care trust wants to stem the rate of infection
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Motorist denies death crash blame
A motorist has denied causing the death of a schoolgirl in a road crash. Magdalena Ochnio, 31, pleaded not guilty at Oxford Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving. It follows the death of 13-year-old Charlotte Hill, a year nine pupil
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Forces day out in Abingdon
FAMILIES had the chance to have fun in the sun at the Abingdon Armed Forces open day, staged at Dalton Barracks at the weekend. On Saturday, both young and old were kept highly entertained at the event organised by Army personnel, the Vale of White
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Weather warning issued
A severe weather warning was issued this evening for Oxfordshire. The Met Office said torrential rain was possible in the county. Forecasters said up to 20mm of rain could fall in a few hours in affected areas.
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Legion salutes fallen heroes
EX-SERVICEMEN paid tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe as the soldier’s body was returned to Oxfordshire today. More than 100 military veterans gathered in Oxford to salute two soldiers killed in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan
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Gangs clash in street battle
A brawl in an East Oxford street after two major community events on Sunday has sparked a police investigation. Dozens of teenagers clashed in Cowley Road and nearby streets shortly after the Cowley Road Fringe Festival and the Carnival
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Cabbie: I feared for my life during mugging
A TAXI driver who was robbed at knifepoint on an Oxford estate feared that he was going to be killed in the attack. Police are appealing for witnesses after the 44-year-old driver, from 001 Taxis, was called to Druce Way, in Blackbird Leys, at about
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Missing pensioner found
An elderly man considered vulnerable has been found after a search by police tonight. Howard Dalton, 80, from the Bretch Hill area of Banbury, was missing after last being seen leaving home at 1.20pm today. Police launched a search because
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Al Gore visits Oxford
Former US Vice President Al Gore will give a speech in Oxford tomorrow at a climate change conference. The conference at Oxford University’s Keble College has been organised by the university’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. Delegates
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Police search for missing Banbury 80-year-old
Police are appealing for help in tracing a missing man from Banbury. Harold Dalton, 80, from the Bretch Hill area, was last seen at his home at about 1.20pm today. He is white, about 5ft 10in tall, and of a stocky build. He was wearing
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Couple cleared of shotgun threat
A HUSBAND and wife have been cleared of threatening a woman with a shotgun. John Cowley, 43, and his wife Wendy, 50, were accused of pointing a shotgun at a wall and rattling a box of 24 shotgun cartridges in the face of Jenna Moore during
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Kids turn circus performers
Children displayed a range of circus skills at a big-top show for parents, relatives and friends. A circus of six to 11-year-olds performed juggling, plate-spinning and acrobatics in a big- top tent as part of St Joseph’s Primary School’s circus week
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A real window of opportunity taken
Stained glass windows created by a group of teenage artists took pride of place at an Oxford school’s summer show. And the artwork will be on display at Cheney School, Headington, for just a week, as the two glass panels have been bought by property
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Theatre set is a load of old rubbish
Creation Theatre will be using old rubbish found along the Thames for its latest performance. Recycled wood, metal, plastic containers and bottles and even a sheep’s skull will be used for both set and costumes for a production of Twelfth Night at Said
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Music legend opens Oxford school studios
ASPIRING musicians at an Oxford school got the ultimate inspiration as rock star Brian Eno opened its new music department. Work on the £4.5m building at Headington School, Headington Road, has now finished and pupils at the all-girls public
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Market celebrates 60 years in Abingdon
STALLHOLDERS and customers looked back over 60 years as they celebrated the anniversary of Abingdon’s Country Market. The market – which sells home-grown and home-made produce in the Guildhall, Abbey Close – has run for six decades in various
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CRICKET: Bradshaw ton in vain
Bicester & North Oxford put in their best performance of the season to hold Division 1 leaders Buckingham Town to a draw on Saturday, but still face a struggle to stay up. At the half way stage of the season, Bicester are 21 points adrift and still seeking
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CRICKET: Powles sets up great win
David Slade took 7-48 and Ben Jones hit 121 for Challow & Childrey in Division 2, but they still lost as Great & Little Tew staged a remarkable recovery. Challow made 217 all out after choosing to bat, with Aussie quickie Anthony Smith (4-46) keeping
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CRICKET: Watts stars in derby win
Oxford Downs 2nd skipper Matty Watts enjoyed a good day with bat and ball as the Division 4 leaders clinched a three-wicket win over Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd. First Watts took 4-73 as Shipton were bowled out for 229, Ross Barrett top-scoring with 64
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CRICKET: Spindler sends Wallingford top
Trevor Spindler took 7-31 as Wallingford walloped Bicester & North Oxford 2nd to go back to the top of the Division 5 table. Bicester were bowled out for just 85 in reply to the home side's 165 all out, in which Colin Allen top-scored with
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Tories were nasty about Section 28
David Cameron’s recent apology and admission that Conservatives got it wrong over Section 28 is a welcome step forward but I wonder whether Mr Cameron has the support of his party faithful. I recall nasty and hateful comments from some Tory MPs when
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CRICKET: Scrase salvo not enough
Thomas Scrase jnr took 6-67 in 19 overs for Kingston Bagpuize in Division 3, but could not prevent Wolverton Town recovering from 73-5 to reach 265-8. Teenagers Shaun Potter (94) and Atif Acklaq (52) added 121 for the sixth wicket before a late blitz
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CRICKET: Didcot can't force win
There were 589 runs and two big hundreds as Division 6 leaders Didcot faced Wolverton Town 2nd, but neither could force a win. First, Tom Kennedy hit a classy 147 not out and Simon Pritchard 89 in Didcot's 310-5 dec from 50 overs. Wasim Fayyaz finished
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Owner's anger as shop closes
A wig shop for patients at Oxford’s new £109m cancer centre has been forced to close because the owner was not on an NHS-approved list of suppliers. Dave Gawman set up the shop after the Cancer Centre opened at the Churchill Hospital in March. The shop
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Just one phones 999 after 'theft'
Just one person dialled 999 after a “thief” was seen breaking into a car during an undercover police operation. During the staged heist – dubbed Operation Jugular – plain-clothed policeman Pc Simon Collins broke into a green Rover in High Street
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Man attacked with knuckleduster in Oxford
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked by a group of Asian men while walking along Park End Street last night. The 26-year-old man had left the Thirst bar in Park End Street and was crossing over the bridge when he was
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M40 crash causes hold-ups
A crash on the M40 today caused delays to drivers heading in and out of Oxfordshire. The crash on the M40 northbound between junction four and junction five caused major hold-ups. The road was also closed southbound for about half an
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Taxi driver robbed at knifepoint
Police are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was robbed at knifepoint in the early hours of Sunday. The driver went to collect a fare from Druce Way in Blackbird Leys at 12.30am. He saw two men walking from a set of stairs in the road.
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CRICKET: Ton-up Smith is a class apart
Sixteen-year-old Harry Smith smashed a career-best 167 as Horley won a high-scoring top-of-the-table Division 1 clash with Shrivenham by 22 runs on Saturday. Smith and Ollie Wright (72) helped Horley to a massive 304-4 from their 45 overs.
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CRICKET: Cup double triumph for East Oxford
OCA Cup round-up East Oxford’s second and third teams both reached cup finals as they posted convincing victories in the Osberton Radiators Cup and Keith Crump Centenary Cup respectively. East Oxford 2nd beat Hook Norton 2nd by 68 runs in their Osberton
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CRICKET: Bunney leads the way for pacesetters Chadlington
OCA League Divisions 5-11 Matt Bunney took 5-33 as Chadlington eased to a six-wicket victory at home to Horley 2nd in Division 5. Horley were shot out for just 92, before Chadlington eased to 93-4. Robin Wilkins hit 84 not out to help Chesterton to
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Update: Soldiers arrive back in the UK
A plane carrying the bodies of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan - including the most senior British Army officer to be killed since the Falklands War - has landed. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, from Kirtlington - the commanding officer
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1.5 millionth Mini rolls out of Cowley
The new Mini has reached another milestone with car number 1,500,000 rolling off the production line in Oxford. Destined for a British customer, the 1.5 millionth vehicle was a red Mini Clubman. Those present to see the landmark reached included
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Gladiators got out and about
CAMPING trips were popular with members of the Gladiator Club in Oxford. The young men and women enjoyed trips to places such as Plymouth, Guernsey and Snowdonia. But this picture was taken closer to home. John Bryden, who sent in the picture, remembers
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Boys enjoyed summer break at sea
MEMBERS of Oxford and Worcester Boys’ Club enjoyed a summer camp at Exmouth, Devon, in 1952. The picture comes from Tony Laishley, now retired and living near Adelaide, in Australia. His late father, Les, known as ‘Mr L’, was the club
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Pupils step in to clean up brook
THESE children decided it was time to do something to help the environment. Marston Brook in Oxford was in a terrible state, with all sorts of rubbish thrown into it. But pupils at Harlow School, in Old Marston, weren’t prepared to put up with the disgusting
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The changing face of Burford
COTSWOLD country crafts came alive in Priory Lane in 1974 when the town staged its first rural street fair. Craftsmen set up stalls and gave demonstrations in wood lathing, pottery, spinning and lacemaking. Onlookers are seen inspecting some of the goods
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Gunslingers kept fete in order
THESE three gunslingers didn’t stand any nonsense – anyone getting in their way knew what to expect. The Abingdon Bounty Hunters, armed with Colt .45 pistols, stormed into the arena at Bletchingdon fete in 1983 looking for trouble. They quickly found
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Tudors turned out for right Royal entertainment
VILLAGERS went to town when they decided to hold a Tudor evening. Henry VIII – in the person of Tom Green – had the enviable task of chasing the ladies at Blewbury in 1968. Among those taking part in the costumed caper were five members of his court
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Everyone pitched in to win wartime battle for food
FAMILIES thought up all sorts of ways to ease food shortages during the Second World War. Gerry Moore, an evacuee at Garsington, writes: “Food and clothing were rationed and furniture was available only for newlyweds or people who had been bombed out
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Rush hour delays on A34
Traffic is slow on the A34 near Bicester following a crash between a car and a lorry this morning. The accident happened at junction nine of the M40 shortly after 7am, and there is congestion tailing back to the B4027, and on the A41 to the B4030 Oxford
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Update: Soldiers to be repatriated today
Two soldiers killed in Afghanistan - including the most senior British officer to be killed since the Falklands War - will return to British soil today. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, from Kirtlington - the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion
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Police urge summer bikers to cool down
SEVEN motorcyclists have been killed already this summer as police last night appealed for all road users to drive more safely. Four were killed in a 13-day period in May, while two others died in four days last month. Police fear the forecast of a good
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Bradley's rare 20p could leave him quids in
BRADLEY SPRINGATE could be in the money after taking a double look at a seemingly ordinary 20p piece he was about to hand over in a shop. The 23-year-old had only just been reading about the Royal Mint blunder, which has seen up to 200,000 20p pieces
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Let's make sure the Cowley Road Carnival doesn't vanish
IT WAS great to see thousands of people flock to South Park yesterday. Coupled with the Cowley Road Fringe Festival, it helped keep carnival simmering in our city. News there would not be a Cowley Road Carnival this year was hugely disappointing
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Bikers need to heed police message
Oxfordshire has endured a horrific 10 weeks on the roads. The Oxford Mail has had to report on the deaths of seven motorcyclists. The way in which many of those crashes happened will probably be decided at an inquest. But police and family members
